Blackjack game, also known as twenty-one, is one of the most popular casino card games in the world. Its precursor was "vingt-et-un" which originated in French casinos around 1700, and which did not offer the 3:2 bonus for a two-card 21. Much of blackjack's popularity is due to the mix of chance with elements of skill and decision making, and the publicity that surrounds the practice of card counting, a skill with which players can turn the odds of the game in their favor by making betting decisions based on the values of the cards known to remain in the deck.
Blackjack hands are scored by their point total. The hand with the highest total wins as long as it doesn't go over 21, which is called a bust. Cards 2 through 10 are worth their face value, and face cards (jack, queen, king) are also worth 10. An ace counts as 11 unless it would bust a hand, in which case it counts as 1.
Blackjack Game Strategy
As in all casino games, the house has a statistical advantage over the players that will play itself out in the long run. But because blackjack, unlike other games, has an element of player choice, players can actually reduce the casino advantage to a small percentage by playing what is known as blackjack basic strategy . This strategy determines when to hit and when to stand, and also determines when doubling down or splitting is the correct action. Basic strategy is based on the player's point total and the dealer's visible card. There are slight variations in basic strategy depending on the exact house rules and the number of decks used. Under the most favorable conditions (single deck, downtown Las Vegas rules), the house advantage over a basic strategy player can be as low as 0.16%. Indeed, casinos offering special rules like surrender and double-after-split may actually be offering a positive expectation to basic strategy players; they are counting on players making mistakes to make money.
The following rules are beneficial to the skilled player:
1. Doubles are permitted on any two-card hand except a blackjack.
2. Doubles are permitted after splitting.
3. Early surrender: the ability to forfeit half your wager against a face or ace before the dealer checks for blackjack.
4. Normal (aka "late") surrender.
Resplitting Aces.
5. Drawing more than one card against a split Ace.
6. Five or more cards with the total still no more than 21 as an automatic win ("Charlies")
The following rules are detrimental to the skilled player:
1. Less than 3:2 payout on blackjacks (Las Vegas Strip single-deck bj, paying 6:5)
2. Splitting a maximum of once (to two hands)
3. Double down restricted to certain totals, such as 9-11 or 10,11
4. Aces may not be resplit
5. No-Peek (European) blackjack - player loses splits and doubles to a dealer blackjack
6. Player losing ties
Blackjack Basic Strategy Tables
This blackjack game strategy table is good for the most common 6- to 8-deck, Las Vegas Strip rules. Specifically: dealer hits on soft 17, double after split allowed, multiple split aces, one card to split aces, blackjack pays 3:2, and (optionally) late surrender.
Your Hand
Dealer's face-up card
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
A
Hard totals
18-21
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
17
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Rs
16
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
R
R
R
15
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
R
R
13-14
S
S
S
S
S
H
H
H
H
H
12
H
H
S
S
S
H
H
H
H
H
11
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
10
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
H
H
9
H
D
D
D
D
H
H
H
H
H
5-8
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
Soft totals
A,9-10
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
A,8
S
S
S
S
D
S
S
S
S
S
A,7
D
D
D
D
D
S
S
H
H
H
A,6
H
D
D
D
D
H
H
H
H
H
A,4-5
H
H
D
D
D
H
H
H
H
H
A,2-3
H
H
H
D
D
H
H
H
H
H
Pairs
A,A
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
10,10
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
9,9
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
8,8
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
Rsp
7,7
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
H
H
H
H
6,6
SP
SP
SP
SP
H
H
H
H
H
H
5,5
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
H
H
4,4
H
H
H
SP
SP
H
H
H
H
H
2,2 3,3
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
H
H
H
H
S = Stand - H = Hit - D = Double - SP = SPlit - R = suRrender if allowed, otherwise hit - Rs = suRrender if allowed, otherwise Stand - Rsp = suRrender if allowed, otherwise SPlit
In some LV Strip casinos you may still be able to find the older version of the multi-deck shoe game, where dealer stands on soft 17; those are usually high minimum ($50 or more) tables. This version is much more advantageous to the player, but requires a slightly modified basic strategy table.
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